Buying 2001 Ram 1500 5.9

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particleman

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Az
Ram Year
2001
Engine
5.9
Hi. I'm new to the Dodge truck world. I just sold my Tacoma back to Toyota because I need 4x4 due to us leaving Arizona for a northern area. I am looking at a 2001 Ram 1500 with 120,000 miles on it for 7k. The truck is super clean but I would like some input for people who know more about these trucks. I know I will have to make some repairs and that's no big deal. Any input would be appreciated.
 

Okiespaniel

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Work, Shop, Computer
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2000
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magnum, 5.9
Hmmm....7k for a 1500 with 120k seems rather pricey. It would have to be nearly show room new condition.

That said, it's an 18 year old truck. Condition issues would be hoses and belts, cap, rotor, ignition wires, throttle body cleanliness, ball joints, tie rods, track bar, and hub bearings. Brakes and hoses. If the truck has a rear limited slip differential, it is starting to break down.

Timing chain and the pre cat Oxygen sensor should be replaced, if they haven't

People talk about transmission issues with these trucks (if it is an automatic), but it's about keeping the thing cool and the fluid clean and flowing.

How Ironic, you bought a 4x4 as you're leaving AZ, I bought my truck when I got there. Seems I needed 4x4 about every weekend...
 

dick strough

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2001
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5.9
My brother bought a new 4x4 4door 3/4 Ton Hemi. His 01 off rd Laramie 360 had 150k. Dealer would allow $1500. He gave it to me so he would have a truck to use. Ha! The truck sets a lot in summer cause of the 10 mpg. I haul wood in winter. The truck had the usual rust. Had the rockers, cab corners and lower door skins replaced, and a flat OD paint job. Put 5" fender lips on to cover my rust proof job over each fender. Anything chrome I rolled on monstaliner undercoat. Looks good. Okiespaniel is right about the maintenance. The 1st. to go was brake lines. Then grinding in the limited slip. There is an additive for the rear end that was never put in. Don't know if that would have helped. I had a 67 chevy truck at the time so I never had to deal with all the sensors ect. The truck would just crank at times. No gas,thought fuel pump. No, the cam sensor in under the distributor cap. Turned out distributor was ban also. Gas guage likes to give you extra gallons when it's not there also. Brother let go just in time! I have about $6k in the truck and feel pretty good about it, as I kinda know what I have. Good luck, ****
 

SportRam00

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Joppa, MD
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2000
Engine
Magnum 360
Watch for rust at the door bottoms and above the front wheels. Uneven tire wear indicated front end repair needed as Okiespaniel said. Big ticket items that need to be verified on a test drive are transmission, rear end, and engine health. Lay your foot in it a bit and see how well the truck accelerates up to highway speed. Try to feel for any trans slipping. If the engine seem like it's struggling to get up to highway speed, you could have a intake gasket leak (very common). At speed listen for ANY noise coming from the rear end (pretty easy to hear if the back window is open). Any grinding, growling, or whine indicates the bearings are fouled (or the gears are worn from lack of maintenance) and the rear will need a rebuild. This is common with Trak-Loc differentials and unfortunately I'm a victim of this situation...

But I will say once things are corrected and the maintenance has been done, these trucks aren't too bad!

I will say that $7k is pretty steep for a truck of this vintage. You should be looking at $4k tops for a truck of this age with that many miles.
 

dick strough

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2001
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5.9
Yes about that front end repair. I got new tires, they couldn't align front end until the ball joints, axle u-joints, tie rod ends ect. were replaced. The truck seemed to drive ok. They showed me the play in the parts. They wanted $950. Went to my local mechanic for $650. And that dash. Got a roll of duct tape with the truck. I got a dash cover from coverlay and a steering wheel bezel from else where. Both fit great and looks 100% better.
 

SportRam00

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Location
Joppa, MD
Ram Year
2000
Engine
Magnum 360
Yes the OEM dash pads in these trucks are all shattered. Not sure what plastic mixture they used, but it is junk. Be careful with the whole dash assembly if you plan on changing out the radio or anything. Very brittle. LMC truck makes a good quality dash pad replacement and their bezel is top notch. I have one of those with a dash cover. Looks good and hides the junk underneath.
 
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